Car-coupling



(No Model.)

P. A. HOTGHKISS.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 480,584. Patented Aug 9, 1892.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT EEicE.

FRANCIS A. HOTCHKISS, OF CEDAR FALLS, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,584, dated August9, 1892.

Application filed November 30, 1891. Serial No. 413,570. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. I-IoTcHKIss, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Cedar Falls, in the county ofl Black Hawk andState of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is an end view of the coupling. Fig. 2 is aside View, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in section.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements incar-couplings; and it consists in the novel construction and combinationof parts, as hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings the letters A A designate two opposingdraw-bars. Each of said bars, with their coupling and uncouplingdevices, being the exact counterpart of the other, a description of onewill suffice for both. In the forward portion of the draw-bar is formeda chamber a, having a contracted or throat portion a', in which issecured a coupling-bar B by means of a pin b, which passes looselythrough an oblong slot in the coupling-bar and through the Walls of thedrawbar. This coupling-baris of arrow-head form, as shown, and forms thecoupling by passing the head of the opposing coupling-bar. The inner endof said coupling-bar works against a buffer-plate C, behind which isseated in a chamber c a spring D, having sufficient recoil to allow thecoupling-bar to be pressed back the length of its head in case the pointcomes in contact with dierent draw-bars, thus sheathing and protectingsaid point. Upon being released, said spring will throw the barimmediately back to its place. It also serves to take up the jar ofcontact. It also affords sufficient slack or play when a coupling iseifected with a car having the ordinary pin -and-link coupling, for thepurpose of which a pin-aperture e is formed in the head of thecoupling-bar. The bottom of the springseating chamber c is formed by aremovable plate E, permitting the spring to be replaced in case ofbreaking without necessitating the removal of the draw-bar from the car.

f is a lug cast on the draw-bar, one on each side of the slot for thepin b, and holding a pin f horizontally under the lower end of said pinb, keeping it to its place and allowing it to be removed, if desired.

F is an opening in the face of the draw-bar, through which it mayreadily be determined which bar is uppermost.

g is a slot through the bottom of the drawbar, communicating with thechamber a, and through which passes an arm g of an angugular uncouplin gshaft or lever Gr into engagement with the coupling-bar. Said lever ispivoted at its angle in the boxes h, and at its upper end connected to ahorizontal pull-rod H, which projects into position to be operated fromthe side of the car. When said rod is pulled, the lever G will beoperated to cause its arm g to come into engagement with thecoupling-bar to lift it sufliciently to pass the opposing head. Said rodI-I has bearings in plate K, secured to the car-frame.

I is an angular lever fulcrumed to the car atc' and havinga lower forkedend in engagement with a shoulder on the pull-rod H. The free end of theupper arm of this lever is connected to a vertical rod J, which extendsinto position to be operated from the roof of the car. When a verticalpull is given the rod, the fork of the angular lever bearing against theshoulder on the horizontal pull-rod will operate the lever G to raisethe coupling-bar to effect the uncoupling.

In practice each draw-bar will be provided with two of the lateraluncoupling-levers, one on each side, thus making provision for effectinguncoupling from either side or from the roof. The action of coupling, aswill be seen, is entirely automatic. For convenience of operation thevertical rod J will be located on the same side as the brake-shaft.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-bar having thechamber therein, of a headed coupling-bar secured in a throat portion ofsaid chamber by a removable pin passing loosely through an oblong slotin said coupling-bar and through the walls of said for operating saidlever to eect such engagement, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, With the draw-bar hav.

ing the coupling-bar loosely held therein, said bar having a slotthrough its wall, of the anr 5 guiar lever having an arm adapted toproject through said slot into engagement with said coupling-bar and thepull-rods connected to said lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 2o presence of twoWitnesses.

FRANCIS A. HOTCHKISS.

Witnesses:

C. F. HOTCHKISS, WILLIAM RAAB.

